Tinting the tail lights
08-20-2012, 03:59 PM
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Tinting the tail lights Im going to get my tail lights tinted and had a few questions for the guys on here that have already done it. Do you guys have to stock tails or the LED ones? Do you get much attention from the police? I have 5% tint on my windows so I am gonna leave the reverse part clear, would you recommend that spray stuff or just reg tint? Thank you for your responses!
08-20-2012, 04:32 PM
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I used VHT Niteshades on my tail lights and was delighted with the results. I don't recommend tinting your reverse lights, because you'll drastically reduce the usable illumination they emit. (For example, I once tinted my headlights and, despite having both my 55-watt HID high beams and my 55-watt low beams wired to come simultaneously, the usable light was reduced so dramatically by the tint, I couldn't see anything at all at night.) In short, a little VHT goes a long way.
You can also easily over-tint your lenses to the point that tail lights are no longer visible at night, brake lights are hardly visible during the day and even appear much dimmer than regular tail lights at night. There are a lot of vehicles running around my town with this problem.
You may consider stretching some clear saran wrap over one of your lenses and practicing misting on some light layers over it to test the way your results will appear once you complete the actual work.
I wish you the best of luck; when done right tail light tinting can look really cool and allow enough visible light to be safe. And when done incorrectly, tinting can be downright dangerous.
You can also easily over-tint your lenses to the point that tail lights are no longer visible at night, brake lights are hardly visible during the day and even appear much dimmer than regular tail lights at night. There are a lot of vehicles running around my town with this problem.
You may consider stretching some clear saran wrap over one of your lenses and practicing misting on some light layers over it to test the way your results will appear once you complete the actual work.
I wish you the best of luck; when done right tail light tinting can look really cool and allow enough visible light to be safe. And when done incorrectly, tinting can be downright dangerous.
08-20-2012, 05:21 PM
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I had tinted lights on my '06 Impala SS, and drove around for about a year before The Man nailed me. The lenses were very dark, but the stock bulbs shone through very well, even in full daylight, but since this is California, I got popped anyway.
After removing those, I went with the eBay LED tails and just left them stock.
After removing those, I went with the eBay LED tails and just left them stock.
08-20-2012, 06:19 PM
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I am going to try that with the saran wrap! Thx for the good idea. I had a mustang and they made reg covers to put on and take off, but I cant find any place that sells them. I want it to be about as dark as my windows. When I get them on I will post pics!
08-24-2012, 09:12 PM
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I havent heard of any other way to tint other than the spray, I got some today. Hopefully have it on by this weekend, if I dont have to get on the HURVAC!
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08-26-2012, 08:18 PM
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i had some of the black out covers that just clip on over the lights. looked good just got pulled over all the time. you could bearly see the lights. i finally just took them off and never went back.
08-27-2012, 07:03 AM
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Here is my finished product! Looking at it now in the daylight, I may just go another spray or two on the lights, and the emblem was smaller than I expected! Overall I think it looks great! Opinions??? I was only able to take 1 pic because my camera went to full battery, to dead battery!
http://s1076.photobucket.com/albums/...t=9e6350a3.jpg
http://s1076.photobucket.com/albums/...t=9e6350a3.jpg
08-27-2012, 09:10 AM
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Yeah those are stick rims...the reverse lights are dim. Between that and the limo tint, when I reverse at night I either pray or roll down the windows. Or sometimes both. That's 5 coats of vht. Which clearly says don't exceed 3.
09-02-2012, 11:51 PM
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Yes they were! They're not like that anymore, but I might do it to my LED tails soon.
To go off topic- Did you remove your side molding on the doors? Was it riveted on?
Here's my tails.... http://i1171.photobucket.com/albums/...9/IMAG1160.jpg
09-03-2012, 06:19 AM
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What side molding are you talking about? Do you mean the door ding guard that runs horizontal to the ground down the middle of the doors...if so this imp didnt cone with it. If your speaking of the chrome strips that surround the doors they're push clipped in.
03-31-2015, 06:48 PM
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04-01-2015, 03:31 AM
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plastidip makes a taillight tint, its a smoke color. it takes alot of coats to get the lights really dark, but being as it is plastidip, its removable if you dont want it on there anymore
04-25-2015, 08:51 PM
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if you plast-dip your taillights use a couple lite coats of black instead of the smoke for better results. good luck and hope the man does pop you like he did me.